CVE-2026-98944: Linux kernel · HID: steam: Refactor registration
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in cf71a6ee1d4e36b8e65b81c064e2797a10247280 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in cf71a6ee1d4e36b8e65b81c064e2797a10247280, c06cf54fe99b8c6bcf2017bb076c0e3918608cea, 6f9b740c31ba7e061b2ebb330d9a3d63f1358f29 +3
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 23 Oct 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: HID: steam: Refactor registration This refactors and simplifies the registration/unregistration flow. Since we now only perform registration when the client isn't opened anymore, the logic for handling that can be removed, and the rest of the function streamlined. We also remove the previous assumption that we have a serial number to show we're registered, replacing it with a single purpose boolean. In a previous refactor the code for unregistering a battery if later registration steps failed was accidentally left out. As a result, a lingering power_supply object could get left over after the steam object was torn down. This is also fixed here.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98944 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2b15e10aff95c78dbacc4fa32fa90c9098213e03 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c2f97343d4df2a75747f4c79effa0587509888f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f9b740c31ba7e061b2ebb330d9a3d63f1358f29 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c06cf54fe99b8c6bcf2017bb076c0e3918608cea (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf71a6ee1d4e36b8e65b81c064e2797a10247280 (opens in a new tab)